The End of Average

1. The Average Man is a myth, not a scientific reality

There was no such thing as an average pilot. If you've designed a cockpit to fit the average pilot, you've actually designed it to fit no one.

The illusion of average. In the 1940s, the U.S. Air Force discovered that designing cockpits for the "average pilot" led to poor performance and accidents. Lieutenant Gilbert S. Daniels found that out of 4,063 pilots, not a single one fit the average measurements on all 10 physical dimensions studied. This revelation challenged the long-held belief in the "Average Man," a concept introduced by Belgian astronomer Adolphe Quetelet in the 19th century.

Averages obscure individuality. Quetelet's idea of the Average Man as the ideal human being gained widespread acceptance, influencing fields from science to social policy. However, this approach ignored the inherent variability among individuals. The "Norma Look-Alike" contest in 1945 further illustrated this point when no contestant matched the supposed "average" woman's measurements.

Shift to individuality. The Air Force's solution was to design adjustable cockpits that could fit a wide range of body types, leading to improved performance and safety. This shift from designing for the average to accommodating individual differences marks a crucial turning point in how we understand and value human diversity.

2. One-dimensional thinking limits our understanding of human potential

If we are looking to hire the smartest candidate for a job, we might rate each woman equally. Yet each of these women clearly possesses different mental strengths and weaknesses, and if the goal is to understand these women's talents, it is obvious that relying on an IQ score is misleading.

The fallacy of single metrics. One-dimensional thinking, such as relying solely on IQ scores or GPA, oversimplifies human complexity. This approach, rooted in Francis Galton's idea of ranking individuals, fails to capture the multifaceted nature of human abilities and potential.

Jaggedness principle. Human characteristics are "jagged," meaning they consist of multiple dimensions that are weakly related to each other. For example:

• Physical size: height, weight, limb length, etc.
• Intelligence: verbal skills, mathematical ability, spatial reasoning, etc.
• Athletic ability: strength, speed, endurance, coordination, etc.

Recognizing complexity. Companies like Google have found success by moving away from traditional hiring metrics and focusing on a more holistic evaluation of candidates. This approach recognizes that talent is multidimensional and cannot be reduced to a single score or ranking.

3. Personality traits are context-dependent, not fixed characteristics

IF Jack is in the office, THEN he is very extroverted. IF Jack is in a large group of strangers, THEN he is mildly extroverted. IF Jack is stressed, THEN he is very introverted.

The context principle. Psychologist Yuichi Shoda's research revealed that personality traits are not fixed but vary depending on the situation. This challenges the traditional view of personality as a set of stable characteristics.

If-then signatures. Instead of labeling someone as simply "extroverted" or "introverted," we should consider their "if-then signatures" – how they behave in different contexts. This approach provides a more accurate and nuanced understanding of an individual's personality.

Practical implications. Understanding the context-dependent nature of personality has significant implications for:

• Education: Tailoring learning environments to individual students' needs
• Workplace: Matching employees to roles and situations where they thrive
• Personal development: Recognizing our own strengths and weaknesses in different contexts

4. Human development follows diverse pathways, not a single normal trajectory

Every baby solves the problem of movement in her own unique way.

The pathways principle. Developmental psychologist Karen Adolph's research on infant motor development revealed that there is no single "normal" pathway for learning to crawl or walk. Instead, she identified at least 25 different pathways that infants follow.

Diversity in development. This principle extends beyond motor skills to various aspects of human development:

• Cognitive development
• Language acquisition
• Social and emotional growth
• Career progression

Implications for education and parenting. Recognizing the diversity of developmental pathways challenges the idea of fixed milestones and standardized expectations. It encourages a more flexible and individualized approach to supporting growth and learning.

5. Education should focus on competency, not standardized grades

With self-determined competency-based credentialing, there are fewer penalties for experimenting in order to discover what you are truly passionate about, and even fewer costs for switching horses midstream.

Limitations of traditional grading. The current system of standardized grades and fixed-time degrees fails to accurately measure individual competencies and ignores the diverse pathways of learning.

Competency-based approach. A shift to competency-based education would:

• Focus on demonstrating skills and knowledge rather than seat time
• Allow for self-paced learning
• Provide more flexible and personalized educational pathways
• Better align education with real-world job requirements

Credentials vs. degrees. Replacing traditional degrees with a system of stackable credentials would allow for more targeted and adaptable skill development, benefiting both students and employers.

6. Businesses thrive when they value individuality over conformity

Investing in individuals is the core of what we do. It's not just a slogan. People often say they care about individuals, but it's something they print up for PR, not something they believe in.

Beyond Taylorism. While Frederick Taylor's scientific management principles led to increased efficiency, they often treated workers as interchangeable parts. Companies like Costco, Zoho, and Morning Star have found success by prioritizing individual strengths and fostering employee engagement.

Benefits of valuing individuality:

• Increased employee loyalty and productivity
• Enhanced innovation and problem-solving
• Better matching of talents to roles
• Improved customer service and business outcomes

Practical approaches. Strategies for valuing individuality in business include:

• Flexible career pathways
• Personalized skill development
• Self-management principles
• Context-based hiring and evaluation

7. Equal opportunity requires tailoring environments to individual needs

Fit creates opportunity. If the environment is a bad match with our individuality—if we cannot reach the controls in the cockpit—our performance will always be artificially impaired.

Beyond equal access. Traditional notions of equal opportunity focus on providing equal access to standardized systems. However, true equal opportunity requires creating environments that fit individual needs and strengths.

Equal fit principle. This approach involves:

• Recognizing individual differences in abilities and needs
• Designing flexible systems that can accommodate diverse individuals
• Focusing on removing barriers to individual performance

Applications. The equal fit principle can be applied in various domains:

• Education: Adaptive learning technologies and personalized curricula
• Workplace: Adjustable workstations and flexible job designs
• Public spaces: Universal design principles for accessibility

8. The American Dream is about personal fulfillment, not just material success

The original formulation of the American dream was not about becoming rich or famous; it was about having the opportunity to live your life to its fullest potential, and being appreciated for who you are as an individual, not because of your type or rank.

Redefining success. The American Dream, as originally conceived by James Truslow Adams, emphasized personal fulfillment and the opportunity to reach one's full potential, rather than just material wealth.

Individuality and opportunity. Embracing individuality is key to restoring this vision of the American Dream:

• Recognizing diverse pathways to success
• Valuing personal growth and self-actualization
• Creating systems that support individual strengths and aspirations

Societal implications. Shifting focus from standardized measures of success to individual fulfillment can lead to:

• More inclusive and equitable societies
• Greater innovation and creativity
• Increased overall well-being and life satisfaction

Last updated: November 18, 2024